Culture

Why Shia LaBeouf Is Beefing With Olivia Wilde Over ‘Don’t Worry Darling’

Leaked videos! Rude nicknames! Leaked emails! This beef has it all.

by Reena Gupta  29 August 2022

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A bunch of drama around Don’t Worry Darling — the forthcoming movie starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh — went down over the weekend, so here’s your summary of exactly what’s been going on.

— Content warning: This article includes discussions of sexual assault. —

Olivia Wilde Originally Claimed She Fired Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf was originally cast in the role of the movie’s leading man Jack, but in an interview with Variety published last week, Wilde claimed she had fired him.

“I say this as someone who is such an admirer of his work,” Wilde began. “His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions. He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances. I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job.”

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Notably, in December 2020 The New York Times reported that FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit against LaBeouf for sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress. At least two other former girlfriends of LaBeouf also alleged to have been abused by him, and artist Sia says he manipulated her into adultery by lying about being single.

“I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behaviour made them feel,” he said in response to an email from the NYT. “I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalisations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing else I can really say.”

Shia LaBeouf Refutes Wilde’s Claim That She Fired Him

LaBeouf put a spanner in the works over the weekend by denying that he was fired from the movie, instead stating that he quit.

The actor who simply seems to love email, reportedly emailed Variety claiming he quit the role, which will was since nabbed by Harry Styles, “due to lack of rehearsal time”. Variety states that they emailed LaBeouf for a response to the claim at the time, but that his representatives did not wish to comment.

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LaBeouf also forwarded two emails he is claiming to have sent to Wilde in the days after Wilde’s Variety cover story was published, where he writes, “You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors and I couldn’t find time to rehearse.”

The actor adds: “Firing me never took place … It is not the truth. So I am humbly asking, as a person with an eye toward making things right, that you correct the narrative as best you can.” See the full email here.

A Video Of Olivia Wilde Seemingly Asking Shia To Return To The Film Emerges

In his emails to Variety, LaBeouf also included a video of Wilde driving a car and appearing to ask Shia to return to her film.

“I’m not ready to give up on this yet,” Wilde says in the video. Wilde also alludes to possible tension between the actor and Florence Pugh, who she appears to refer to as ‘Mis Flo’ in the video.

“I, too, am heartbroken and I want to figure this out,” she adds. “You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us. If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you guys can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers — but if you guys can do it, what do you think? Is there hope? Will you let me know?”

Watch the video below.

Florence Pugh Reportedly Opts To Avoid Press For New Movie

To add even more drama to the mix, Florence Pugh — who plays 1950s housewife Alice in the film — has reportedly opted to limit how much press she’ll be doing for the new movie, beyond appearing at its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The actor is allegedly unhappy with Wilde for a number of reasons, including the fact that marketing around the film has been overly focused on the sex scenes between her and Styles. Rumour has it that Pugh also is uncomfortable about Wilde starting a relationship with Styles, and the conflicting accounts around LaBeouf’s exit from the film detailed above.

Fans are also taking issue with Wilde’s use of the words ‘Miss Flo’ which people are characterising as condescending.

People Make Fun Of Harry Styles’ Acting

This probably doesn’t have to do with any of the above, but Harry Styles — who now plays opposite Pugh in the movie — has been copping some flack for his acting skills after a scene from Don’t Worry Darling was released, and look, it’s pretty funny.

So if you got this far, please enjoy the clips below for some comic relief.

Photo credit: Getty Images